Pleating apparatus and method



Jan. 10, 1967 E. SOTO PLEATING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Jan. 25. 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. E/VQ/Ql/E 5070 BY WW Jan. 10, 1967 E, 5010 PLEATING APPARATUS AND METHOD 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 23, 1962 INVENTOR. ENG/00E 5070 BY W QTTOQ/VEV Jan. '10, 1967 E. so'ro PLEATING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Jan. 25, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. ENE/QUE 5070 m1 7 A 77'QQ/VEY N MN WBQQQI H ME-Emir lnm Unitedstates Patent 3,297,215 PLEATING APPARATUS AND METHOD Enrique Soto, 981 Montecito Drive, Los Angeles, Calif. 90031 Filed Jan. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 168,213 11 Claims. (Cl. 223-28) This invention relates to pleating apparatus and manufacture and more especially to a machine for pleating draperies and other fabric articles.

The manufacture of pleated draperies and other fabric articles heretofore has been attended with considerable difficulty. In such manufacture the pleats have often been uneven and irregular in form and spacing and such irregularities have been readily noticeable, the resultant product having an appearance of poor workmanship. The present invention has been developed to overcome these difiiculties and shortcomings of the prior art apparatus and methods of pleating draperies and has its fruition in a machine or apparatus for making perfect pleats in fabric materials.

It is, therefore, the primary purpose and objective of this invention to provide novel pleating apparatus for pleating draperies and other fabric materials.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a novel leating apparatus for draperies and the like wherein the size of the pleats can be readily varied.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved pleating machine or apparatus wherein the spacing of the pleats can be varied.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel pleating apparatus wherein the size of the pleated article is substantially unlimited.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear and be brought out more fully in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view partially in section showing the structure ofthe crank case or frame of the pleating machine of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view enlarged taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 showing the parts in partially operated condition.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a partial elevation view taken along the line 55 of FIGURE 3 showing the displacements of the carts.

FIGURE 6 is a partial plan view showing one of the carts and related parts.

FIGURE 7 is a partial plan view showing a step in the operation of the apparatus and with a portion of the material to be pleated in position.

FIGURE 8 is a partial elevation front view showing a second step in the operation of the apparatus.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8 showing the next succeeding step in the operation of the apparatus.

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view of two bows of material held together by stapling.

FIGURE 11 is a diagrammatic plan view of a pleated bow showing the necessary return portion of the material.

The pleating apparatus of this invention comprises an elongated table-like frame along which extends a track on which a plurality of carts or roller clamp devices may roll, these devices being connected by a plurality of cross bar links of the lazy-tong type and by which the spacing of the carts or clamp devices are always maintained at equal though varied spacing. An end cart or clamp deview enlarged taken along 3,297,215 Patented Jan. 10, 1967 vice is secured to one end of the structure and determines the starting point for the several panels of the pleated unit.

The pleat material is initially secured to the several clamp devices in separated or extended condition and, upon the carts or clamp devices being moved to near contracted condition, the several bows are formed, the sides of which are temporarily stapled and thereafter sewed together to form the several pleats. A scale is positioned along the trackway by which the size of the pleats and the panels may be determined in order that accuracy of these dimensions may be maintained. The apparatus is designed for manual or motor operation, as may be desired.

Referring in more detail to the drawings, the pleating apparatus of this invention comprises an elongated frame or crank case 10 consisting of a pair of spaced apart beams 11 secured to a plurality of legs 12 to which a pair of side panels 13 are secured. A top plate 14 is mounted on each beam 11 and an I-beam rail 15 is secured on each of the top plates 14.

A plurality of roller clamp devices or carts 16 are movable along the I-beam rails 15 and each of the carts comprises a block 17 to the underside of which are secured a pair of U-shaped brackets 18, each of which provides bearing mounting for two pairs of rollers 20 adapted to run on rails 15 on opposite sides of the web thereof. A bracket 21 is secured on each of the carts 16 and mounts a clamp 22 that is actuated by a toggle link handle 23 from the open position shown in FIGURE 3 to the clamped position indicated in FIGURE 4. A fixed clamp device 16a is mounted on a block 17a secured on frame 10 at one end thereof at the end of rails 15. The block 17 in each of the carts 16 is formed slightly concave or dished as indicated at 24 and as may be clearly seen in FIGURES 8 and 9. A guide rail 25 is secured to the rear top plate 14, the top edge of the guide rail being substantially level with the top of blocks 17 and 17a.

7 To the underside of each cart block 17 is secured a U-shaped bracket 26 which mounts bearing pins or bolts 27, each of which pivotally secures the upper ends of a pair of links 28 which are arranged in a cross bar or lazytong arrangement. Each link 28 is pivotally connected at its mid-point to the mid-point of a link carried by an adjacent cart 17 and the lower end of each link 28 is similarly secured to the lower end of a link connected to the second removed cart, the mid-pivot connection being indicated at 29. A pin 30 extends through apertures in the webs of rails 15 and provides pivot mounting for an end pair of links 28a, the alternate pair of links 28b being similarly connected to pins 31 suitably secured to panels 13 or a fixed part of frame 10.

A transverse shaft 32 is suitably bearing mounted at one end of frame 10 and has secured thereon a pulley 33 driven by a belt 34 from a motor 35 suitably mounted to frame 10. A switch 36 is secured on one of the panels 13 near the right end thereof, as may be seen in FIGURES 1 and 3, for controlling the operation of the motor 35 for forward and reverse movement. The shaft 32 has secured thereon, and for drive by it. three chain sprockets 37, 38 and 39, respectively, for driving three chains 40, 41 and 42, respectively, which chains are carried over three idler pulleys 43 running on a transverse shaft 44 positioned at the opposite end of frame 10. Chain sprockets 37, 38 and 39 are dimensioned in the ratio of 1-2-3. Chain 40 has one link thereof secured to cross bar link pin 29a, chain 41 having a link thereof connected to pin 29b and a chain 42 having a link thereof connected to pin 290.

Because of the proportioned sizes of the sprockets 37, 38 and 39, driving chains 40, 41 and 42, drive the crossbar links 2%, 29b, and 290, at proportionately different rates whereby clamps that are farther from the fixed end of the lazy tongs assembly are moved at a proportionately greater rate (and distance) whereby the result is realized of uniform spacing between the clamps.

The pleating machine exemplified herein is designed for the making of three panels, each having five pleats, and

there are therefore provided 15 carts or roller clamp devices 17. Pin 29a is that which interconnects links 28 respectively connected to the fourth and fifth carts, pin 29]) being similarly connected to the links secured to the eighth and ninth carts and pin 290 connected to the links secured to the twelfth and thirteenth carts respectively. Thus, upon rotation of drive shaft 32 by a motor 35 (or manually if the apparatus does not have a motor) the lazy-tong linkage will be extended and retracted so as to maintain the carts 17 uniformly and equally distantly spaced, this spacing being also maintained between the first cart and the fixed clamp device 16a at the end of the structure.

Extending along the front of the apparatus is a metal strip 45 running the full length of the frame which strip is formed with a plurality of apertures 46 spaced at onequarter inch intervals. These apertures are staggered so as not to weaken the strip, the starting point of this array of apertures being opposite clamp device 16a. A shaft or retractable pin 47 is provided for positioning in any of apertures 46 during the operation of the apparatus. A staff or stop pin 48 is provided and is insertable in an aperture 48a which is formed in the front side of each clamp block 17 staff 48 being adapted to stop against staff 47 during the operation of the apparatus.

Extending parallel with strip 45 is a case 49 having an upstanding flange 50, the case being formed with a plurality of apertures 51 at the extreme right end thereof and spaced one-quarter inch apart starting from a starting point opposite fixed clamp device 16a. A metal ruler 52, measuring 96 inches in length, is slidable along case 49 and, at one inch in from the end thereof at the zero mark of the ruler, a shaft 53 extends which is insertable in one or another of apertures 51 in the case 49. A scale 54 may, if desired, be provided on block 17a running to the right of the starting point of the fixed clamping device 16a. Pin 30 which supports links 28a extends forwardly and serves as an abutment for stop pin or staff 47.

This pleating apparatus is designed to make five pleats each and three panels, however, additional pleated panels may be made in the same piece of material by merely pleating the additional panels following the manner of making the first three panels. In conducting the pleating operations, it is first necessary to determine the amount 3f width to be pleated and to what size. With the aid of 1 chart accompanying the machine, equal spaces and hidien seams will result. After the number of widths to be )leated and the total size have been determined, the chart vill indicate what the first three widths and the remainng widths should be pleated to.

FIGURES 7 to 11 show the manner of pleating with he machine of this invention and illustrate a pleated vanel of 22 inches having a return size of 4 /2 inches. .he amount of material for this panel will be 45 inches.

tarting with the machine closed, as shown in FIGURE that is, with all of the carts 16 bunched at the right nd, the material M is placed so that the end thereof is n the return platform 17a with the end or return f the material placed at 4 /2 inches as indicated by the zler 54 and the material clamped down by the clamp a, the handle 23 thereof being preferably marked white. The ruler 52 is then shifted on case 49 so that .e 4 inch mark coincides with pin 30 which indicates e start of the pleating panel the return of the material the end part to the right of the fixed clamp 16a and institutes a border part between the edge of the material Id the first pleat.

The next step is to place shaft 47 in the aperture 46 rresponding to the 22-inch mark on strip 45. The left d of the material M is then clamped to the fifteenth imp device 16, the handle of which is also white.

The next step is to open the machine, by operation of motor 35, or manually, until the material is taut between the two white handles. The intermediate clamping devices are then actuated to clamp the material thereto. The machine is then closed until the stop pin or staff 48 strikes the stop pin or staff 47 in the aperture in strip 45. This will form the five bows B as shown in FIGURE 8. Thereupon the material is folded by hand adjacent the clamp to the right thereof and stapled or pinned, as shown in FIGURE 10, in readiness for sewing. These bows will thus be the pleats when folded to the position shown in FIGURE 11. The material is then removed from the machine or shifted, if additional panel widths are to be pleated. The same process is repeated for additional panels, with the exception of resetting the ruler 52 at the zero mark or point of no return.

As should be clear from the foregoing description, the disclosed pleating machine is capable of making five pleats per panel, making three panels at a time, the size of the panels and the pleats being whatever desired, within the limits of the machine. As stated above, clamp handles 5, 10 and 15 are white, however, if half panels are desired, they may be made using handles No. 2, 7 and 12 which are half white and half black. The remaining clamp handles are black.

It will be understood that the foregoing description is illustrative rather than restrictive of the invention and that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A pleating machine comprising a frame having an elongated guide track, means comprising a plurality of material clamping devices movable along the track, means interconnecting the clamping devices whereby they may be moved in one direction while maintaining equal spacing between adjacent clamping devices, variably settable stop means positioned along the guide track whereby to stop movement of the clamping devices at a desired predetermined point whereby material to be pleated can be clamped to individual clamping devices and then the clamping devices moved in closing direction until interrupted by the stop means, the said clamping devices being arranged to form folds between adjacent clamping devices, extending upwardly from the material.

2. A machine as in claim 1 wherein said interconnecting means comprises lazy tongs.

3. A pleating machine comprising a frame having an elongated guide track, means comprising a plurality of material clamping devices movable along the track, means interconnecting the clamping devices whereby they may be moved in one direction while maintaining equal spacing between adjacent clamping devices, variably settable stop means positioned along the guide track whereby to stop movement of the clamping devices at a desired predetermined point whereby material to be pleated can be clamped to individual clamping devices and then the clamping devices moved in closing direction until interrupted by the stop means to form folds between adjacent clamping devices, means for holding said interconnecting means at one end, and drive means for opening said clamping devices from said one end and closing them toward said one end.

4. A combination as in claim 3 including a material end clamp on one end of the said frame.

5. A pleating machine comprising a frame having an elongated guide track, means comprising a plurality of material clamping devices movable along said guide track, interconnecting means between the clamping devices and fixed at one end whereby the clamping devices may be opened away from said fixed end while maintaining uniform spacing between adjacent clamping devices, means providing an adjustable stop along said guide track, a plurality of said movable clamping devices having adjustable means for cooperating with said stop means, means for clamping the material to be pleated at said fixed end and for opening said clamping devices with material clamped to one device until the material is taut, means for closing said clamping devices with material clamped therein until a stop member carried on a movable clamping device engages the said fixed stop member, the said movable clamping devices having relationship to the guide trackway whereby the material to be pleated folds upwardly when the movable clamping devices are closed.

6. A machine as in claim 5 wherein said interconnecting means comprises a lazy-tongs assembly having linkages connected to individual clamping devices, said assembly being positioned beneath the movable clamping devices.

7. A machine as in claim 6 including drive means for the lazy-tongs assembly including endless drive members and drive means including means for driving portions of the lazy-tongs assembly farther from the said fixed end at a greater rate to compensate for the greater distance from the fixed end.

8. A pleating machine comprising a relatively narrow upright frame having a pair of spaced guide rails at the upper part providing an elongated trackway, means comprising a plurality of material clamping devices having rollers and mounted to the movable along the track, means interconnecting the clamping devices comprising a lazy-tongs assembly having links connected to individual clamping devices whereby they may be moved in one direction while maintaining equal spacing between adjacent clamping devices, the lazy-tongs assembly being in a position below the clamping devices and being fixed at one end to the frame so as to be expandable in a direction away from the fixed end, a platform along the top of the frame having openings in it and variably settable stop members formed to be received in the openings, the said clamping devices having opening, and a removable stop member adapted to be received in the openings and cooperable with the variably settable stop means whereby to stop movement of the clamping devices at a desired predetermined point whereby material to be pleated can be clamped to individual clamping devices and then the clamping devices moved in closing direction until interrupted by the stop means whereby to form upward folds of material between adjacent clamping devices.

9. A method for forming uniformly spaced uniform drapery pleats comprising extending unpleated drapery material to a full width condition, simultaneously engaging two side edges and a number of uniformly spaced intermediate portions of the drapery material along one margin equal to the number of pleats desired plus one, simultaneously progressively and uniformly reducing the spacing between said engaged portions and causing the unengaged portions to form accessible pleats of progressively increasing uniform dimension until a predetermined width is reached between the side edges, maintaining said engaged portions equally spaced apart, and directly applying predetermined amounts of movement to spaced ones of said engaged portions of the material, in the same direction and in proportion to their distances from a side edge of the material.

10. An apparatus for forming uniformly spaced uniform pleats in drapery material comprising a fixed base, a plurality of relatively movable uniformly spaced material engaging means mounted on said base, actuating means connected to said respective engaging means for uniformly decreasing their spacing in a linear direction, means mounted on said apparatus extending at a fixed level between said spaced material engaging means for supporting drapery fabric therebetween and causing the pleats to automatically form upwardly when the material engaging means are brought toward each other, said actuating means including expandable means connected at spaced intervals to each of said respective engaging means, plural drive means connected to said expandable means at spaced points therealong, and proportional drive means for said plural drive means for imparting proportionately different movement in the same direction to said expandable means at the points of connection of said drive means whereby to insure uniform spacing between the said clamping devices.

11. An apparatus for forming uniformly spaced uniform pleats in drapery material comprising a fixed base, a plurality of relatively movable uniformly spaced material engaging means mounted on said base, actuating means connected to said respective engaging means for uniformly decreasing their spacing in a linear direction, means mounted on said apparatus extending at a fixed level between said spaced material engaging means for supporting drapery fabric therebetween and causing the pleats to automatically form upwardly when the material engaging means are brought toward each other, said actuating means including expandable means connected at equally spaced intervals to each of said respective engaging means, a plural flexible line and pulley drive mechanism with the flexible lines thereof drivingly connected to different parts of said expandable means for driving said different parts in the same direction but at different rates whereby to insure uniform spacing between said engaging means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,733,353 10/1929 Maulsby et al 223-28 2,124,650 7/1938 Chessler 22333 X 2,520,787 8/ 1950 Sherman 223-30 2,589,379 3 1952 Herzog.

2,672,929 3 1954 Eggert.

2,777,617 1/ 1957 Matt 22334 3,058,634 10/ 1962 Wieneke 223-28 FOREIGN PATENTS 15,180 8/1893 Great Britain.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Examiner.

P. L. GARDNER, G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A PLEATING MACHINE COMPRISING A FRAME HAVING AN ELONGATED GUIDE TRACK, MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF MATERIAL CLAMPING DEVICES MOVABLE ALONG THE TRACK, MEANS INTERCONNECTING THE CLAMPING DEVICES WHEREBY THEY MAY BE MOVED IN ONE DIRECTION WHILE MAINTAINING EQUAL SPACING BETWEEN ADJACENT CLAMPING DEVICES, VARIABLY SETTABLE STOP MEANS POSITIONED ALONG THE GUIDE TRACK WHEREBY TO STOP MOVEMENT OF THE CLAMPING DEVICES AT A DESIRED PREDETERMINED POINT WHEREBY MATERIAL TO BE PLEATED CAN BE CLAMPED TO INDIVIDUAL CLAMPING DEVICES AND THEN THE CLAMPING DEVICES MOVED IN CLOSING DIRECTION UNTIL INTERRUPTED BY THE STOP MEANS, THE SAID CLAMPING DEVICES BEING ARRANGED TO FORM FOLDS BETWEEN ADJACENT CLAMPING DEVICES, EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE MATERIAL. 